Voter Registration Deadline is Oct. 17

WWLP TV

Updated: Sep 21, 2012 6:19 PM

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) — With less than 50 days to Election Day, state officials are making sure they’re getting as many voters registered as possible for a much anticipated presidential election.

With more than 4 million registered voters in Massachusetts, state officials are hopeful that voter turnout this November will reach over 70 percent.

“In 2008 we exceeded 3 million voters actually voting in an election, that was the first time we ever did that,” said Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin.  “I’m hopeful that we’ll do that again.”

But earlier this month, voter turnout for the state’s primary election was less than 15 percent. In response, Secretary Galvin is promoting a vigorous voter registration campaign. He expects the intensity of the presidential and U.S. Senate race will draw voters in.

“I think there’s a lot of interest in this election and I think there will be a good turnout,” said John Miller of Milton, who said he was motivated to visit the polls to vote for Senator Scott Brown.

“It’s very important.  That’s one of your civic duties to do,” said Relate Gerlinger of Boston.

And with all the people who have moved in and out of the state in the last four years, election officials expect hundreds of thousands of new registered voters.

“I think it’s specifically important for the youth to vote,” said Alex Davies, a student at Suffolk University.  “I was registered in New Jersey because that’s where I’m from, but I re-registered here in Boston.”

The deadline for voter registration in Massachusetts is October 17.

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